Commentary on Judges, Sermon 22
THE TWENTIE TWO SERMON ON THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
VERS. 23. Then Ehud got him out into the porch, and ſhut the dores of the parlour vponupon him, and locked them.
24. And when he was gone out, his ſeruants came, who ſeeing that the doores of the parlour were locked, they ſaid; ſurely hee doth his eaſement in his ſommer parlour.
25. And they tarried till they were aſhamed: and ſeeing he opened not the doores of the parlour, they tooke the key and opened them, and behold their Lord was fallen dead on the earth.
26. So Ehud eſcaped (while they tarried) and was paſſed the quarries, and eſcaped to Seirah.
NOw of the things that followed this action, and pertained to it, according to the diuiſion made in the end of the fifteenth verſe: they are ſet downe in theſe foure verſes, and tend all to this end, to ſhew how God made way for Ehuds ſafe eſcaping. And therefore firſt note we ſomewhat generally, and then more particularly afterward. For his comming forth, in that none of the Kings ſeruants were at hand to goe into the Kings parlour preſently, or if they were there attending, yet that they ſhould be ſo negligent and forgetfull to goe in forthwith, but to tarrie till Ehud might be gone paſt all danger, it was as I ſaid of his going about it, ſo ordered by God▪ that all might ſay, thus hee would hauehave it, and then we know, that none can withſtand or reſiſt it. To teach vsus the ſame ſo that although a man would thinke, that there might be many waies to ouerthrow and fruſtrate Gods purpoſe, yet none of them ſhal ſtand, for why? there is no counſell againſt the Lord. Who would not hauehave thought, but Prou.that Pharaoh might hauehave kept the people of Iſrael ſtill in his land, and that Exod. 12. 41.none could hauehave brought ſuch a mighty people) euen many hundred thouſands) out of it againſt his will? But yet behold, ſeeing God would deliuer them, it was not he, nor all his chariots, no nor all the Kings in the world, if they had ioyned with him, that could hauehave hindred it.
It might likewiſe hauehave been thought an eaſie matter for King Ahab and Iezabel, full of ſpite and cruelty, with all their ſtrength, friends, and retinue, 1. King. 19. 1. 2.whom they might hauehave commanded and ſet about it, to roote out and take out of the way, the poore Prophet of God Elias, which they deſired moſt earneſtly to hauehave done: but ſeeing God would preſerue him to honour his name, it was in vaine for them to attempt or goe about it. So for Paul, one ſeely Apoſtle to conquer ſo great a part of the world by the preaching of the Goſpell, which it had vtterly reiected, how admirable a thing was it? ſeeing it is manifeſt, that the malitious Iewes reſiſted, and came againſt him in all places: but who might withſtand God, when he would hauehave it ſo? For in that one city at Corinth, he bad him go forward in preaching, and faint not, Act. 18. 9. 10. 11where he had much people; adding this for encouragement thereto, that none ſhould be able to hinder it. And let vsus in theſe daies be wiſe by ſo many faire warnings. It cannot be that one of Gods faithfull ſhall periſh, therefore let vsus not ſmite at ſuch, with tongue nor hand as hee loueth: hee will Note.fight for them, and curſe them that curſe his, and they ſhall repent it, if not too late, that they went about to hurt them. But of this I ſpake before in the Gen. 11. 35.former Sermon, though not in the ſame words, nor making the ſame vſe thereof: therefore thus much briefly of theſe verſes in generall.
Now that it is ſaid in this verſe, that Ehud, when he had done this worke Doct. of verſ. 23.vponupon Gods enemy, came forth neither in feare, nor any great haſte, in any diſguiſed manner, but as though hee had done nothing worthy ſuſpition, neither gaue any token of a guilty conſcience, but as one that had ſerued God in that worke. It liuely ſetteth before our eyes the peaceable fruit of an excuſing and quiet conſcience. Behold the like in Iael, the wife of Heber, Iudg. 4. 22.who hauing ſlaine Siſera, whereas any other doing ſuch an act of his owne head with a murthering mind in ſuch a matter, could hardly hauehave auoided it, but he ſhould hauehave bewrayed himſelfe eaſily and palpably: as is to bee ſeene in Iudas betraying his maſter, who cried out of his owne fact, ſaying; I Mat. 27. 4.hauehave ſinned in betraying the innocent blood. And it may teach vsus how greatly the quiet and excuſing conſcience of the innocent and righteous man differeth from the guilty and accuſing conſcience of the vngodly. And it agreeth with the words of the Wiſe man, who ſaith; The righteous is bold as Prou. 28. 1.a Lion, but the wicked fleeth, when no man purſueth him. The ground of this his peace, was the diſcharge of that duty which the Lord impoſed vponupon him, in this extraordinary caſe, the which otherwiſe had been abominable parricide. And although this viperous brood of Ieſuites pretend the like diſpenſation from their pettie god the Pope, and thereupon harden their hearts, and ſet an impudent face vponupon the matter, as if they had no wound or terrour of conſcience: yet the truth is, their ground being naught, the cauſe of this boldneſſe is ſhameleſneſſe, impudency, and want of conſcience at all, if they be not wounded. Hell can onelyonly terrifie theſe helhounds, for God they feare not, and they hauehave hardened their faces (as it ſeemeth) to regard no man. Where we may ſee a double benefit that the godly reape and enioy by hauing allowance and warrant from God for the duties they doe: to wit, inward quietneſſe of mind, and ſtrength and courage thereby to beare any outward danger or trouble, if need ſhould bee, and both the contraries to purſue and take hold of the other, that is, an helliſh minde toward God, and terrour and dread though they bite it in, in regard of the world, or an hardened heart which is worſe then both.
As for thoſe which waited on the King, they did fooliſhly: they ſhould Verſ. 24. 25. The clearing of them.hauehave caſt the hardeſt, when Ehud came forth of the parlour, and hauehave ſtayed him, and not hauehave kept out ſo long, and hauehave made ſuch delay as they did: for delaies are dangerous where the matter is weighty, in which they are vſed. And they being thought ſo wiſe that the keeping of their Lord and maſter was committed to them: they failed greatly and groſly in their duty; and therefore they reaped the fruit thereof, when after their long tarying, they came in at the laſt and found him ſlaine. This is that which delay breedeth Doct. verſ. 24. 25.in all things, (not in their doings onelyonly) and the more danger, the greater the things are, as I hauehave ſaid. Thus Baa…ah and Rechab by the negligence of the Kings officers, ſlew him on his bed. And as this teacheth eueryevery priuate man to be diligent and warie about the duties that belong to his function and calling, to preuent loſſe and damage; ſo eſpecially it commendeth vigilancie and circumſpection in al ſuch, as through whoſe hands great matters of ſtate and gouernment doe paſſe, that neither by their careleſnes, conniuence, or other ſiniſter reſpects, they ſuffer that miſchiefe to grow vponupon Church and Common wealth, which by their prouidence might in ſeaſon be preuented ere it bee helpeleſſe. The fit ſeaſon therefore is to bee taken, in earthly buſineſſe and our common affaires, as this was heere by Ehud: wee muſt vſe the opportunity; reape the corne when it calleth for the ſickie, and ſtrike the iron while it is hot: ſo our market muſt be made, while a good peniworth may be had. Doe all thou haſt to doe with diligence, while the day Eccleſ. 5.laſteth: the night will come, wherin ſuch workes cannot be done. Remember the rich man, who being in hell in torments, was denied a drop of cold water, becauſe hee auoided them not while he enioyed plenty. So Haman made requeſt for his life too late And by their ſlackneſſe and delay we may Luk 16. 25.much more be warned in the weighty affaires that concerne our happines, 2. Cor. 6. 2.to take the fit ſeaſon: that is, to ſeeke the Lord while he may bee found, and not driue off from day to day, but to remember our maker in the daies of Eſa. 55. 6. Eccleſ. … 1.our youth, and to day, while wee heare his voice, not to harden our hearts, Pſal. 95. 8.but imbrace his meſſage both in the Law and promiſes of God by faith vntounto ſaluation. The ſeruants that kept not Saul, but ſlipt in great danger, were acceſſaries (as Dauid tels Abner in Sauls caſe) though they betrayed him 1. Sam. 26. 16.not: euen ſo the careleſſe delayer to get faith and repentance, ſhall periſh, as he that hates to be reformed. The fiue fooliſh Virgins knocked to be let in, Luk. 13. 3. Pſal 50 16. Mat. 25. 11. 12.when the doore was ſhut. Euen ſo in all particular actions of our life, looke we before all other things to keepe our conſcience pure and good. To the like purpoſe much might bee ſaid. And this by occaſion of the ſeruants delay, and their aſtoniſhment, when they ſaw how it fell out to them thereby.
Ehud reaped the benefit of this their delay, for while they thus draue off Doct. verſ. 26.and loſt the time in which they ſhould hauehave carefully attended vponupon their Lord, hee eſcaped out of their hands, and wound out of all danger, hee paſſing the quarries, which it ſeemeth were places betwixt Gilgall of the Iſraelites, and the Moabites, which before he could get beyond, he was not paſt danger: and ſo comming to Seirah, a place heere mentioned in the borders of Iſrael, further off from danger, he was in ſafety. And thus wee ſee againe, that they who are wiſe and ſpeedy in their buſineſſe, doe thriue and proſper, when they who delay the time, doe apparantly ſit in their owne light, and worke their owne ſorrow and annoyance, as wee hauehave heard: euen as he who hauing fooliſhly refuſed a good bargaine, which might hauehave been for for the benefit and maintenance both of him and his long after, mourneth and diſpaireth of the like offer and opportunity. The diligent hand maketh rich, and he that watereth ſhall alſo hauehave raine. Curſed is hee that doth the Lords buſineſſe negligently. The people in Iohn Baptiſts time receiued the Mat. 11.word with greedineſſe, happie was hee that could enter firſt into the kingdome of God, and they that make no haſt doe neuer come thither. And yet they that ſtriue to enter in at the ſtraite gate ſhall bee receiued into glory: when other ſhall ſeeke to enter afterward (too late) and ſhall not bee able. And therfore the Apoſtle tels vsus, that ſuch as can redeeme the time, are wiſe men; the fooliſh beleeue eueryevery thing, and ſo driue off, and are taken in the Compare verſ. 16. with the 15. of Epheſ. 5.ſnare. Thus wee ſee the wiſe take the opportunity, and bring their matters thereby to a good paſſe. But for all that I hauehave ſaid of ſpeedineſſe, yet vnderſtand me thus: that raſhneſſe is as farre from commendation, as driuing off the time, and delay. Thus much of Ehuds firſt worke in killing the chiefe enemie of Gods people, that Eglon the King; which was a great meane of their deliuerance and reſt.
Verſ. 27. And when he came home, he blew a trumpet in mount Ephraim, and the children of Iſrael went downe with him from the mountaine, and hee went before them.
28. Then ſaid he vntounto them, follow mee, for the Lord hath deliuered your enemies, euen Moab, into your hands. So they went downe after him, and tooke the paſſages of Iordan toward Moab, and ſuffered not a man to paſſe ouer.
29. And they ſlue of the Moabites the ſame time about ten thouſand men, all fed men, and all warriors, and there eſcaped not a man.
30. So Moab was ſubdued that day vnderunder the hand of Iſrael, and the land had reſt four ſcore yeeres.
THe ſecond meane of Iſraels deliuerance followeth; and that was, the Verſ. 27. The ſenſe and ſumme of theſe 4. verſes.cutting off of ten thouſand of the valiant men of Moab, which was the other good helpe toward their deliuerance beſide the killing of the King, which now followeth to the ending and making vp of this Story, to verſ. 31. But firſt it is ſhewed what Ehud did to the bringing of this to paſſe. The things that Ehud went about, whereby ſo many of the Moabites were ſlaine and Iſrael was deliuered, were theſe three: firſt, as hee was a valiant man, ſo he comming to the place heere mentioned, Seirah by name, (it was not Seir in Idumea, but neare to mount Ephraim in the land of Canaan, as was ſaid before) hee did not leaue the worke vnperfect, which hee had begun in killing the King of Moab, but 1. with a trumpet he called together the men of Ephraim, and by his authority ſtirred them vp to warre: and 2. to encourage them the better therto, he aſſured them from God of the victorie: and 3. with this, they tooke vp and beſet the foords of Iordan, where the Moabites paſſed ouer too and fro out of Iſrael into the land of Moab: and by this meanes they ſtayed ſuch of them as were on that ſide the riuer, that they could not eſcape and goe ouer, and thoſe that came out of the land of Moab ouer the riuer to reſcue their fellowes, and purſue Iſrael, they ſlew alſo, till ten thouſand men of good courage were cut off. And this if they had not done, the Moabites being ſo inraged againſt them for that which was done to their King, they had made ſpoile and hauocke of them, whereas now they ſubdued them, and obtained a long time of reſt themſelues. Thus much for the clearing of theſe 4. verſes.
Now of that which we are to learne out of them. Ehud did not delay, as The meaning of verſ. 27 particularly.we ſee, for that had bin full of danger, but now while the Moabites through aſtoniſhment at that which was befallen them, could not by and by ſee and determine what was beſt to be done, he plied it, and went to worke, as wee hauehave heard. It is as hard a matter to vſe an opportunity wiſely, and purſue the occaſion effectually when it is offered, as it is at firſt to get and take it. But Ehud loſt no time, but followed it hard: and as he had eicaped while the ſeruants delayed; ſo now hee gathers his army together, while the Moabites (being amazed with terrour) were fit by paſſing to and fro to bee purſued, and diſcomfited. And as this doth ſhew how vnwearied wee ought to be in Doct.thoſe actions that tend to the glory of God, the good of the Church, and the confuſion of the enemies thereof; ſo, more generally it teacheth vsus, when we hauehave made a good beginning in any thing, that we ſhould not bee ſlacke in going forward, and following it: but as Ehud heere did, wiſely and carefully labour to bring our worke vntounto an end. It is a thing much more common to begin well, then to goe forward ſo, whether wee vnderſtand it generally, to make a beginning in Chriſtianity, or in any particular part thereof, it is moſt true. For the formoſt, many of vsus come to profeſſe the Goſpell indeed, and imbrace it commendably, by hearing it ioyfully, in conuerſing with Gods people kindly, & in forſaking many parts of our former bad liues. But when wee ſhould hold on in this good manner to ſearch Note.further into our ſelues, to finde out our ranke corruptions, and to purge our ſelues of them, and to be grounded in our moſt holy faith, and ſtabliſhed as Iudg. 19.we may attaine to, we waxe ſoone weare, and begin to ſtand at a ſtay, and ſo we loſe all our labour that we hauehave beſtowed already, and fruſtrate the work that was well begun.
And ſo to ſay the ſame of particulars, it is well ſeene, that many attempt ſundry good actions commendably; as the labouring for a good Miniſter, and the drawing of the people to godly ſociety and louelove in a towne, and to hauehave an eye to the vnruly: other begin good exerciſes and orders in their family, and namely, prayer morning and euening; and ſome vſe good meanes for the well ordering, and good gouerning of their liues, and labour to roote out particular abuſes out of them, and to entertaine grace and good duties, and many ſuch like I might mention. But I cannot tell how it commeth to paſſe, that as if they thought theſe good things ſhould laſt but for a while, or as though they would hold in good plight without meanes (wherin they ſhew that they are not well grounded, though they did well for a ſeaſon) ſo they goe to worke, and what with diſcouragements and croſſes on the one ſide, and allurements and prouocations on the other ſide, they faint and breake off: whereas that ſhould not bee, till the worke were brought to a good end, that ſo they might goe forward in other duties in like manner. Neither ſhould wee looke to the things paſt, what good wee hauehave done more then other, to become leſſe carefull thereby in going forward; Phil. 3. 13. 14.but what remaineth yet to bee done till wee hauehave brought our good attempts to paſſe; and one good duty ſhould follow after another, vntill we hauehave finiſhed our courſe with ioy. Wee muſt remember that the Merchant went and bought the pearle when hee had found it: and the wiſe Virgins Mat. 13. 42. Mat. 25. 4.kept oyle in their lampes. And heere it were to good purpoſe to thinke of Ehuds vnwearied care and labour, till he had brought all to a good end, and of ſuch other as did the like; and to conſider with our ſelues (as hee and ſuch did) how all that hath been done of vsus in ſuch caſes, ſhould bee but in vaine; and beſide, great danger and detriment muſt needs come vponupon vsus, if wee ſhould (as too many doe) breake off in the mid way. Oh what doe men loſe heereby: euen beſide all their labour, the fruit of it alſo. But of this we hauehave occaſion to ſpeake often elſewhere.
Further, in that it is ſaid that he hartened them on againſt the Moabites, aſſuring them that the Lord had deliuered them into their hands, and that he drew them after him, and they did as he willed them; wee ſee the worth of a good guide, what he may doe with thoſe which he is ſet ouer, and how much, ſtrong and well grounded perſwaſions preuaile, where they be vſed in ſeaſon and good manner, God bleſſing them as hee hath promiſed. Heathen Captaines hauehave done much with their ſouldiers, and Princes and lawmakers with their ſubiects: who yet (we know) could neither certifie them of the things they promiſed, and encouraged them to hope for, neither if they could; were the things of any other fort or kinde, then temporary. Now then how much more are they like to preuaile with men, who both Note.bring infallible promiſes from God, and alſo of things which pleaſe him (as Ehud heere doth) and they doe not onelyonly glad the hearts of the perſons therewith, in as much as they vnderſtand thereby that God will bleſſe them heere abundantly, and alſo that their reward is great in heauen.
As the Lord ſpoke to Ioſhua ſaying: Bee valiant and of good courage, for I Ioſh. 1. 3.hauehave giuen the whole country of the Canaanites into thy hands: ſo ſpake Ehud heere vntounto the men of Ephraim in the name of God, and by his authority. And theſe are the perſwaſions that are like to preuaile, I ſay not with the faithfull onelyonly: but (if any may bee) theſe are of force to moue euen other alſo. Not that they can be throughly perſwaded thereof without faith, but for that they doe very much moue their minds, and the rather by the example of better then themſelues, and alſo they doe cauſe them the more to enquire into ſuch things, and how they ſhould bee done, till they grow acquainted with them, that ſo they may in time beleeue and ſo doe them in faith alſo. And let this which I ſay bee better conſidered in two things: the one in the promiſes of eternall life, the other in thoſe which belong to this preſent life.
For the firſt, when God ſhall by ſome faithfull meſſenger of his, aſſure the hungring ſoule, and the man of an afflicted ſpirit, of pardon of his ſinnes, and eternall life, and that he ſhall vndoubtedly enjoy them, requiring this withall that he giuegive credit therto, and beleeue the ſame; how greatly (think we) do they moue and preuaile with him, as we ſee Chriſts words did with Zachee, and Pauls with the Iailor, and with many other? And for the ſecond Luk. 19. 8. 9. Act. 16. 33.likewiſe, I meane the temporary promiſes of this preſent life (as this was one, that Ehud heere offered and ſet before the people) as the promiſe of bleſſing and good ſucceſſe to ſuch as obey God, by walking diligently in their particular calling, and the promiſe of a good end and iſſue out of trouble to them which commit their way to God, and are well occupied vnderunder Note.in the meane ſeaſon: to theſe, I ſay, how forcible are ſuch promiſes, and what power hauehave they to vphold the hearts of ſuch, in a comfortable expectation of the things promiſed? whereas without them, nothing could doe the ſame. Oh therfore what good may a godly Miniſter do in both (euen as her ſuperiours alſo, eſpecially being men indued with the gifts of the ſpirit) if he continue in louelove to put the poore people daily in remembrance of theſe things, in the middeſt of the manifold changes of this life? And therefore as God ſhall impart to any man in the miniſtery or otherwiſe; more light, wiſedome, experience, and grace, either in beleeuing or obeying, the more muſt hee apply himſelfe to enlighten, aduiſe, and ſtrengthen thoſe whom God hath ſet him ouer for that purpoſe; knowing that it is not eueryevery mans caſe, to be able to miniſter vntounto himſelfe or other, aduice or direction, (though it were much to be deſired) eſpecially in a matter of difficulty, and in a doubt of conſcience, or in tentation, or vnderunder the croſſe. Peter therefore betruſted with this office, to confirme his brethren, as a man of a thouſand, as Dauid, Pſal. 51. vndertooke it, who had himſelfe firſt well learned it, and was the better able to performe it to other. Neither let any man thinke it a diſgrace to himſelfe thus to ſee, and walke, by the eyes, and vponupon the feet of others. It is a mans wiſedome, and a great portion from God, to receiue direction by ſuch meanes. Heere I will ſtay.